When it launches on November 10, Xbox Series X will be the most powerful console the world has ever seen. One of the biggest benefits of all that power is giving developers the ability to make games that are Xbox Series X Optimized. This means that they’ve taken full advantage of the unique capabilities of Xbox Series X, both for new titles built natively using the Xbox Series X development environment as well as previously released titles that have been rebuilt specifically for the console. In our Inside Xbox Series X Optimized series, these creators will share the behind-the-scenes accounts of how they’re optimizing their titles for Xbox Series X and what that means for the future of gaming.
Today, we’ll be chatting with Lathieeshe Thillainathan, Live Producer at Ubisoft Toronto about optimizing Watch Dogs: Legion for Xbox Series X.
Q: What excites you most about developing and bringing Watch Dogs: Legion to life on next-generation hardware?
A: Showcasing our near-future London and allowing our players full immersion has been a key goal for us. With the Xbox Series X, we can run at a 4k resolution and a consistent 30 fps. Combined with the Raytracing tech we’re using in-game, it means we offer a smooth, cinematic gameplay experience.
Q: In addition to benefiting from the power and performance of Xbox Series X for quicker load times etc. what Xbox Series X features were you most excited to explore leveraging in the development of Watch Dogs: Legion?
A: The graphical enhancements don’t stop with Raytracing and higher resolution; we have greater fidelity, shadows, geometry, and support variable refresh rates. Our players can traverse through the city of London in a smooth, seamless manner. All of that and more, translate into our players having a great time playing Watch Dogs: Legion on the Xbox Series X.
Q: How will these enhancements impact a player’s experience with Watch Dogs: Legion?
A: Our players can fully experience ‘Play as Anyone’, explore London, and enjoy the story while getting the best out of this console generation. The quicker load time keeps you in the world of London, and Raytracing brings our world and characters to life.
Q: Why did your development team choose to focus on Direct X Raytracing and 4K resolution at 30fps as enhancement areas for Watch Dogs: Legion?
A: Watch Dogs games are open world urban playgrounds for us, and London in Watch Dogs: Legion is no different. It’s a bustling metropolis, with self-driving vehicles, drones flying overhead, and holograms depict the near future element of the city. 4k and Direct X Raytracing allow us to bring an unprecedented level of realism to such an urban environment.
Q: How do you expect fans of Watch Dogs: Legion will respond to playing it on Xbox Series X with these enhancements?
A: I think players will have a blast exploring Watch Dogs: Legion. The team has worked hard to develop our near future London, so the higher level of detail, Direct X Raytracing, and smooth performance will take player immersion to the next level.
Q: What is it like developing on Xbox Series X?
A: The team was excited to get an early hands-on with the Xbox Series X. The fast loading was a game changer for us. The faster we got into the game, the quicker we debugged, and made the best possible experience for our players. It’s also been a pleasure to be part of the launch of new next-gen cycle.
Q: Which enhancement were you most excited about to explore leveraging for Watch Dogs: Legion on Xbox Series X?
A: The most exciting feature for me was bringing Raytracing to our Xbox players. Showing off the amazing work from our team at the best details with Raytracing has been very rewarding.
Q: What does Smart Delivery mean for your game and how you’re bringing Watch Dogs: Legion to fans?
A: I think it is great value for the players, it’s player centric. Buy the game once, and you can play without worrying about which console generation you have, without any hassle for you. You get to enjoy Watch Dogs: Legion at its best!
Q: What does Xbox Series X/next-generation development enable in current or future projects that you could not have achieved with the current generation of consoles?
A: For our team, it now means having much greater flexibility to develop our vision of what top-of-the-line AAA games mean. We now have the hardware to bring to life fantastic high-end gaming experiences.